information on how president obama and his president saysors will be kept safe, that is coming up next. >> memorial and funeral services are said to be the largest gathering for an international diplomat ever. security and transportation are likely to be logistical challenges. many say that the 2010 soccer cup in south africa was a success. so secure think the time around should also be feasible. joining me by phone to discuss this is reid epstein, "politico's" white house reporter. reid, it is confirmed the white house did send over a secret service team immediately when it was confirmed the president would be heading there. what are you learning? >> caller: deb, as soon as the mandela news broke, the white house sent secret service and military chiefs to south africa to start getting ready for the president's arrival. they are working with secret service officers who are based both in south africa and rome, who had been coordinating for months answers years with the south africans preparing for the services after man dell why's death knowing that u.s. president would want to be one t